• Campus Visitor: We have invited Ronnie Cazeau, an education consultant and current head of school at University Prep School in Seattle, to give us an objective view on our work towards establishing and sustaining a culture of belonging and inclusion. For more information about Ronnie, here is a link to her bio. Ronnie will be at Stevenson next week for three days (Monday, January 27- Wednesday, January 29). She will meet with community members to get to know Stevenson and the Equity and Inclusion work being done at the school through their eyes.  Please do not hesitate to contact Molly Bozzo, Chief Culture Officer with any questions about Ronnie's visit to our school community.
• Dusty Boots Tour: Please join President Dr. Dan Griffiths, Director of Advancement Amy Elmore and Director of Facilities and Capital Projects Chris Madill '86 this Friday, January 31 at 10 a.m. for a tour of the math, science and engineering building construction site. Meet in Douglas Hall and be sure to wear closed-toe shoes and long pants; hard hats and safety vests will be provided. A coffee reception will follow. Please register here.

Lower and Middle Division

• Los Angeles Fires Support: Please join us in an effort to support the Village School of Pacific Palisades and other schools in Southern California affected by the fires. The Village School lost its entire school building and is transitioning into a temporary space. To support their students and school community, and to emphasize the importance of service to our own students, we invite you to contribute new and gently used books for children in grades PK–6 as well as new school supplies.
  • School Supplies Needed: Notebooks, crayons, markers, colored pencils, flair pens, children's scissors, pencils, glue sticks, highlighters, Post-it notes and Expo markers.
  • Book Drive: Monday, January 27 – Friday, January 31, students can bring book donations to their classrooms or advisories, and parents can drop off books in the donation bin in the front office. Please reach out to Katie Willis if you have any questions.

• Late Start Reminder: Tuesday, January 28, remains a regular late start day for both Lower and Middle Division students. School begins at:
  • 8:40 a.m. for Lower Division students.
  • 9 a.m. for Middle Division students.
• Lower & Middle Division Assembly: We will have a joint assembly on Friday, January 31, 2:15 p.m. – 3 p.m., in honor of Lunar New Year and Black History Month. Please note that there will not be a Lower Division assembly on this day as originally scheduled.
• Free Dress Day: Students may come to school in free dress on Friday, January 31.
• Lost and Found: We've noticed that many students' sweatshirts, jackets and water bottles are being left around campus. To help ensure your child's belongings make it home, we encourage you to remind them to check for any misplaced items and consider labeling their clothing and water bottles. Labeled items are much easier for us to return to their owners. Thank you for partnering with us in helping students take responsibility for their belongings!
• Girls on the Run: Girls on the Run, for Grades 3-5 girls, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping every girl recognize her limitless potential and boldly pursue her dreams. We are seeking parent volunteer coaches to support this program after school on Wednesdays and/or Thursdays, starting in March.  If you are interested, please contact Maddy Springfield.
• Parent Association Subcommittees: We are excited about the work our Parent Association is doing and grateful for the efforts you all bring to support our community. Are you interested in getting more involved with our Parent Association Subcommittees? We would love to have you! If you'd like to join any of the subcommittees listed below, please email Gina Nobida.
  • Grade Level Gatherings (class specific social events).
  • Special Events (book fair, career day, culture day, Halloween, Grandparents Day, carnival, etc.).
  • Lower Middle Division Parent Socials (on/off campus school-wide events).
  • Community Connections (connections with off-campus organizations, to be determined by the committee).
  • Equity and Inclusion (focusing on strengthening campus wide initiatives, in collaboration with the Equity and Inclusion office and school leadership).

Lower Division

• NWEA MAP Assessment: Students in Grades 3 and 4 will participate in the Measure for Academic Progress (MAP) testing for math and reading for the winter testing window on Monday, January 27, and Tuesday, January 28. A family guide to MAP testing can be found here. Please let your child's teacher or Kate Bitter, Director of Learning Support, know if you have any questions about the assessment and its administration.
• Attendance Reminders: Research shows that attendance is a key indicator of school success. We want students here daily and miss them when they're not!
  • Reporting Absences: Please email Jackie DiYanni and your child's classroom teacher in advance if they will be absent. For same-day absences, please notify them as well via email or call the front desk at (831) 574-4600. Please continue to submit an Absent Request located on your Parent Page.
  • Late Arrivals: Students arriving after 8 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and after 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday must check in at the office for a late pass.
  • Early Pickups: Notify Jackie DiYanni and your child's teacher in advance and please sign your child out at the front desk.

Middle Division

• Student Recognition: Three extraordinary Middle Division musicians – Elena DeCarlo, Nelson Liu and Sienna Webster – recently participated in the CCS Honor Orchestra, which is comprised of the finest middle school musicians in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. Elena was selected as the principal violinist (1st chair); Sienna was a principal of the viola section; and Nelson was 2nd chair in the cello section. Congratulations!
• Attendance for MAP Assessments: Please make every effort to have your kids at school on January 29 and 30 for these assessments. We will not be able to accommodate students taking the MAP assessments on other days. The best way for them to do their best is to be well rested and fed. As shared in our Parents Association meeting, the second round will not be shared with families, as it is intended for our teachers to assess where whole classes are and adjust instruction accordingly.

• Donation Drive for Los Angeles Fires: The recent Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County have caused significant damage, with over 14,000 structures destroyed and at least 27 lives lost, as of January 21. To support those affected, the Student Wellness Coalition is organizing a donation drive on the Pebble Beach campus from January 21 – February 3. Donation bins are located in front of Douglas and in Rosen Foyer for students, faculty, staff, parents and community members to contribute. Items needed include non-perishable foods (tuna, soups, nut butters), toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste) and daily essentials (phone chargers, socks, blankets, diapers). All donations must be new, unworn and unopened. Let's come together as a community to help our fellow Californians in this time of need – thank you for your generosity!
• AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: The Pro-Am starts on Monday, January 27, and concludes on Sunday, February 2. Traffic in Pebble Beach, Carmel and the surrounding areas will be significantly heavier than usual. Please allow for extra time to avoid delays.
• College Center: Please join us for the following presentations:
  • Affording College – Expert Advice from New York University's Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid: This free webinar, Wednesday, January 29 at 5 p.m., is great for parents of all high school students who want to understand the latest when it comes to college financing options.
  • Athletics Recruiting Night: Join Jon Burke, Co-Director of College Counseling, on Wednesday, February 5 at 7 p.m., for a virtual presentation designed to help student-athletes and their families understand the college athletic recruiting process.
• Grade 12 Parent/Guardian Transitions Event/Gathering: Join on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Learning Commons (6:30 p.m. if joining by zoom) for a gathering to talk about how to partner in preparing our seniors for their next adventures, as we savor these final months before graduation. We will also use the opportunity to talk through the logistics of graduation week and all of the celebrations that lie ahead. Register here.
• Spring Sports: The official start is February 3; students can find communications about their selected sport on their Pirate Page. Athletes involved in winter interscholastic sports, theater or tech must finish their current commitments before transitioning to spring sports. Those in non-interscholastic options should check out with their current coach before beginning spring activities. Winter intramurals end on February 13, and spring intramurals start on February 24.
• SAT Practice Exam: On February 8, a virtual, full-length SAT practice exam will be available to students through Revolution Prep. Students must register on their Pirate Page.
• Curriculum Day: All students are required to be on campus through the end of the academic day on Friday, March 7. Also, Grade 10 students who are not attending the Sophomore Wilderness Expedition are required to attend classes and special programming for the entirety of the March 3-7 week.